Pakistan Signs $4 Billion Arms Deal with Libya Despite UN Embargo

Pakistan has signed a $4 billion arms deal with Libya, including fighter jets and training, despite ongoing UN sanctions and regional instability concerns.

Pakistan has reportedly signed a $4 billion military equipment deal with Libya, according to four Pakistani officials speaking to Reuters. The agreement marks one of the largest arms sales in Pakistan’s history and comes despite UN-imposed arms sanctions on Libya, in place since 2010.

The deal was finalized following a meeting last week in Benghazi between Pakistan’s Army Chief, Marshal Asim Munir, and Libya’s Deputy Commander of the National Army, Saddam Khalifa Haftar. Libya’s official military media confirmed the signing of a defence cooperation pact that includes arms sales, joint training, and potential military production. Haftar described the agreement as the “beginning of a new phase of strategic military cooperation with Pakistan” in a televised statement.

A copy of the contract obtained by Reuters details the sale of 16 JF-17 fighter jets, a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, and 12 Super missile trainer aircraft. The deal also reportedly covers ground, naval, and air equipment, to be delivered over a two-and-a-half-year period.

Officials say the agreement comes amid Libya’s ongoing instability following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Any arms transfer requires UN approval under existing sanctions, and a December 2024 UN expert report described Libya’s arms embargo as “largely ineffective,” noting that foreign governments increasingly provide training and military support to forces across Libya.

The Pakistani defence ministry, foreign ministry, and army have yet to make any official statement regarding the deal. It remains unclear whether Pakistan or Libya has sought exemptions from the UN to facilitate the arms transfer.

Pakistan’s economy remains under scrutiny by the IMF and World Bank, which have repeatedly warned that fiscal constraints and rising external debt limit Islamabad’s ability to fund large defence expenditures. Analysts note that multi-billion-dollar deals may influence Pakistan’s negotiations for future bailout packages or economic reforms.

Both the IMF and World Bank have linked Pakistan’s defence spending to broader concerns over governance and economic stability. Large-scale arms contracts could strain financial resources, complicating international financial assistance and domestic development priorities.

Analysts say the Libya deal underscores Pakistan’s growing role in international arms markets, particularly in regions seeking to modernize militaries despite UN restrictions. The agreement also reflects the intersection of geopolitics, military strategy, and economic considerations, and is expected to draw close scrutiny from the UN and global observers.

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